‘Concierge King’? Don’t be so insulting, says HUGO VICKERS. From saving the planet to helping young people, these pivotal years will crystallize everything Charles has been working towards…

The king has faced numerous accusations during his long service.

The final joke is that he is just a stopgap between his mother, Elizabeth II, and his son William. I bet he doesn’t see it that way.

To imagine that Charles is content to be a “caretaker king” is a complete misreading of the man who just delivered the opening address at the COP28 conference on climate change.

Taking the throne in his mid-seventies, the king will inevitably have a shorter reign than many, but a look at his efforts over the past fifteen months shows a man of enormous energy, a workaholic who barely breaks for an afternoon sandwich and that pressure from morning to evening.

Some have wrongly suggested that Charles, seen here at his Scottish ‘coronation’, is a stopgap between his mother, Elizabeth II, and his son, William, on the left.

The king continues to delve into the causes he has always defended. Here he speaks during the opening ceremony of the COP28 climate summit

He does a lot privately behind the scenes, and we rightly don’t know to what extent that is the case.

My theory is that he will be pleasantly surprised by the opportunities he now has as head of state to interact with other world leaders.

He can’t make the kind of public statements he did as Prince of Wales, but he will receive more attention now than when he was heir apparent.

We get a sense of where his priorities lie now by looking at his public engagements.

While we know he is committed to climate change, there are some subtle shifts in emphasis that I think point to a man who is now primarily concerned about the future.

Overall, I see him promoting harmony, whether civil, racial, or religious. The future belongs to the young and youthful efforts seem to have been given greater emphasis in his scheme

During his visit to Kenya, the King was briefed on beach clean-ups, youth rehabilitation and mental health projects, lifeguard training and the UN Sustainability Program. And he met young athletes in the Kakura Forest.

As MailOnline Royals has noted, he was greeted with great enthusiasm by the young Kenyans.

Spirituality also seems to play a larger role.

The king’s religious interests are broad and all-encompassing. In recent months he has hosted the Chief Rabbi, attended several interfaith events and helped celebrate the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht at the Central Synagogue.

And for the sake of harmony, the variety of groups he has celebrated is great.

He has hosted receptions for the Global Investment Summit, for nurses and midwives, for the UK’s contribution to humanitarian efforts around the world, and for supporters of the Powerlist Black Excellence Awards.

On his 75th birthday he launched the Coronation Food Project. He attended a reception for African business leaders and inspected food bank stores, nature reserves, hospices and therapy gardens.

King Charles turned 75 this month, but shows no signs of slowing down

King Charles must now limit what he says in public, but will have even greater influence behind the scenes. Here he greets the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol

Prince William pays tribute to his father in one of the most moving moments of the coronation

King Charles carries out his duties at the climate summit in Dubai

In other words: it’s ‘business as usual’, but even more so. His government offers many opportunities – and he will continue.

Is this a man thinking about his legacy?

It may well be that history will pass a kinder judgment than what was bestowed upon him during his years as heir.

These years will be the crystallization of his life’s work.